The ABC of surfing
0-9
360ER: A full turn (360°) with the surfboard.
A
AERIAL OFF-THE-LIP: Jumped drop with the surfboard.
AERIAL OLLIE-POP: jump in the wave like on a skateboard.
B
BACKSIDE: Surfing with your back to the wave so that you load the backside edge.
BACKWASH: Buff wave that “backwashes”, usually at high tide and in deep waters.
BEACHBREAK: Surf spot breaking on sandy ground.
BLANK: Coarse preformed foam core used to make a surfboard.
BOTTOM TURN: Steep turn in the wave trough to surf back up the wave/get momentum.
BOTTOM: The bottom of the surfboard.
BREAKING LINE (English: LINE UP): “Line” where the waves begin to break through shallow water.
C
CHANNEL: Quiet area between two wave spots that is good for paddling out because the current pulls out.
CHANNELS: Channel-like concaves on the underside of the board to create lift.
CHOPPY: Cable waves caused by wind.
CLEAN UP SET: Above average waves, which usually “wash away” all surfers in the water.
CLOSED OUT: Wave that breaks along its entire length to the simultaneous.
CROSSSHORE: Wind that blows parallel to the wave.
CUT BACK: Curve back to the refractive edge of the wave.
D
DECK: The top of the surfboard.
DING: English word for a damage of the surfboard.
DROP IN: The driving into the wave. Also, violating the right of way rules by “reindropping” into a wave that is already being surfed by another surfer.
DUCK DIVE: Dive through technique to get into the line-up.
E
EBBE: When the seawater runs off, it is called the ebb tide. Duration usually 6h 12min.
EPOXYD RES IN: Synthetic resin, which is stronger compared to polyester resin and is used for laminating surfboards.
F
FINNING: Fin -like “stabilizers” on the tail of the surfboard.
FISH: Board form widespread in the 70s. It features a wider and rounder board shape, which in turn allows the board to be shorter. It is mainly suitable for more radical tricks in small to medium wave sizes.FLOATER: When the wave “closes”: continues gliding on top of the “lip” of the wave, similar to the 50-50 grind in skateboarding.
FLOOD: When the water rises, it is called a flood. Duration usually 6h 12min.
FOAM: Artificial foam from which the blanks are made.
FOOT: Unit of measurement: 1 foot = 30.48 cm
FRONTSIDE: Surfing with your chest to the wave.
G
GLASSY: Smooth water surface and usually the best surfing conditions because there is no wind.
GOOFY: Surfer standing with his left foot behind.
GUN: Narrow & long surfboard for high & fast waves.
H
HANG FIVE: Trick in which one foot is placed on the nose. Mostly while longboarding.
HANG TEN: Trick in which both feet are placed on the nose.
HIGH TIDE: see high tide
HIGH WATER: highest water level.
I
IMPACT ZONE: Area near the curl where the wave breaking is the hardest.
INCH: unit of measurement, 1 inch = 2.54cm
K
KICK OUT: Leaving the wave via the lip, often associated with a jump out of the wave.
L
LAMINAT: glass fiber reinforced plastic, the “skin” of the surfboard
LAY BACK: Lean with your back into the wave to slow yourself down.
LEASH: Safety leash attached to the ankle as well as the board, which prevents you from losing the surfboard.
LEFTHANDER: Left breaking shaft
LINE UP: Total area where the wave breaks.
LEFT-BREAKING WAVE: Wave that breaks to the right as seen from the beach.
LIPPE: top part of the shaft.
LONGBOARD: Long and voluminous surfboard from about 2.60, with a round nose
LOW TIDE: Low water
M
MID TIDE: Mean water level (between low and high tide)
MINI MALIBU: surfboard in the shape of the longboard, only a little shorter
N
NATURAL FOOT: = Regular – surfer standing with the right foot behind.
LOW WATER: lowest water level.
NOSE: The tip of the surfboard
O
OFF SHORE: offshore wind. The waves build up steeply due to the “headwind” and thus usually break hollow.
ON SHORE: Onshore wind. The wave is flattened by “tail wind” – bad surfing condition
OUTSIDE: Outermost point where the waves break.
P
PEAK: First refraction point of the wave
PIN TAIL: Tip tail shape of the surfboard, less maneuverability but more stability
PLUG: Attachment part for the leash incorporated in the tail of the surfboard.
POINTBREAK: Wave that always breaks in the same place, usually through a reef.
R
RAILS: The outer edges of the surfboard.
REEFBREAK: Wave that breaks over a reef of rock, lava rock or coral.
RIGHT-BREAKING WAVE: Wave that breaks to the left as seen from the beach.
RIGHTHANDER: Right breaking wave
RIP: Strong current, which usually runs out to the open sea between two points.
ROCKER: bending up the surfboard over the long side.
ROUND TAIL: Rounded tail
S
SCOOP: bending up the nose of the surfboard
SECTION: Different refraction ranges within one wave
SET: Regularly occurring grouping of waves.
SHAPE: The basic shape of a surfboard.
SHORE BREAK: Wave breaking directly onto the shore
SHORTBOARD: Short surfboard up to approximately 7 feet in length.
SHORTY: wetsuit with short sleeves and short legs.
SINGLE FIN: Surfboard with only one fin, nowadays only common for classic longboards.
SPOT: Location where a surfable wave breaks.
SPRINGTIDE: Above-average tidal differences occurring at full and new moon.
SQUARE TAIL: Straight cut tail shape.
STEAMER: Long wetsuit
STRINGER: Wooden stiffener in the middle of the surfboard, which gives the surfboard the stability.
SWALLOW TAIL: Swallow tail shape with V-shaped incision.
T
TAIL: Tail of the surfboard.
TAKE OFF: The start into the wave: Paddle up, stand up and go.
THRUSTER: Surfboard with three fins
TIDE: The entire period between low and high tide.
TOP TURN: turn at the top of the wave to surf down the wave again
TUBE: Wave tube that every surfer wants to get into.
TWIN FIN: surfboard with two fins
V
V-BOTTOM: A slight V-shape on the bottom of the surfboard.
W
WALL: The unbroken front of the wave.
WAX (SURFWAX): A special wax that is rubbed on the top of the surfboard to prevent slipping.
WHITE WATER: White foam produced by the breaking of the wave (mixing of air and water).
WETSUIT: = wetsuit
WIPE-OUT: uncontrolled fall in the wave
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